MMA Prophet

Dana White’s first interview as the president of the UFC

While working as a manager for Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, Dana White learned that Semaphore Entertainment Group, the parent company of the UFC, was looking for a buyer for the UFC. White contacted childhood friend Lorenzo Fertitta, an executive at Station Casinos and a former commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Within a month, in January 2001, Lorenzo and his older brother Frank bought the UFC with White installed as its president.

White owns 9% of Zuffa, LLC, the entity the Fertitta brothers created to own and manage the UFC.